Walking the Rail Corridor from Tanjong Pagar Railway Station to Kranji Gate
30 June 2021 marked the 10th anniversary of the closure of the KTM Singapore Sector. To commemorate a decade of the removal of the railways in Singapore, I decided to walk the recently-reopened Rail Corridor from south to north as far as reasonably practicable.
Since the day would have came and gone without fanfare, I decided that there should at least be a few people in Singapore who should remember the day, and I will be one of them.
Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (Cantonment MRT Station)
I started my 24km walk from Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, getting here by bus from HarbourFront MRT Station.
Tanjong Pagar Railway Station is the site of the future Cantonment MRT Station on the Circle Line, so all of the station is currently closed for putting the MRT under it.
The Tanjong Pagar Railway Station building is now owned by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).
Seems like some refurbishment works are going on with the clock at he side of the station building.
The current facade of Tanjong Pagar Railway Station 10 years on.
The front facade view of Tanjong Pagar Railway Station is currently blocked by the Circle Line Stage 6 site office.
Circle Line 6 Project Information Centre
The former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station car park is now taken up by the Circle Line 6 Project Information Centre and site office.
An old lamppost of Tanjong Pagar Railway Station still sits inside the Circle Line 6 Project Information Centre and site office.
M. Hasan Railway Food Canteen served up the best Malaysian food in Singapore right on Platform 1.
The rest of the back of the station is now hoarded up with tall sound-reduction hoardings and sound barriers for the construction of Cantonment MRT Station.
Heading up Spottiswoode Park Road towards Kampong Bahru Yard.
Sri Muneswarar Peetam Hindu Temple
Sri Muneswarar Peetam Hindu Temple was the former Hindu temple located inside Kampong Bahru Yard, which has since moved to 16 Ubi Road 4, Singapore 408624.
As compared with last year, the green railing in front of the former staircase down to Sri Muneswarar Peetam Hindu Temple has been replaced, which is now flushed throughout the sheltered walkway.
Kampong Bahru Yard
Kampong Bahru Yard now houses the platform roofs of Tanjong Pagar Railway Station while construction of Cantonment MRT Station is under way.
Kampong Bahru Bus Terminal (Royal Malaysian Customs)
Kampong Bahru Bus Terminal opened on 10 March 2018 on the site of the former Federal Customs Collection Station of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department.
Kampong Bahru Bus Terminal is a good initial pit stop for a toilet and water break with toilets and water coolers readily available to fill up my bottle for the walk north. You may also purchase food and drinks from the NTWU Canteen.
The Kampong Bahru Bus Terminal and realigned Spooner Road sits on the former freight lines in Kampong Bahru Yard.
Rail Corridor Entrance at Spooner Road
The current southernmost Rail Corridor entrance is located opposite Kampong Bahru Bus Terminal on Spooner Road with an unceremonious footpath. In future, the southernmost Rail Corridor end should be Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (Cantonment MRT Station) once the underground circle has been closed up.
Passing by the former coach shed.
Passing by the former Railway Recreation Club.
Tanjong Pagar Railway Station Signal Cabin
The path from Spooner Road leads to after the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station Signal Cabin, and to get to the actual end of the track alignment at this current time, backtracking is needed.
The path from the signal cabin to the track has been removed.
A very overgrown fence to the point of collapsing under the weight of the plants.
Preserved bungalows behind the hoarding.
The current end of the track is just before the CCL6 construction near the junction of Keppel Road and AYE. Do note that unlike pins placed on Google Maps, there is no access from this end to or from Keppel Road.
There’s a hole in the hoarding where the door is, so I poked my camera in for a look at the old signal cabin.
Now to start my Rail Corridor walk north to Kranji from the southernmost possible starting point.
No token to collect for my walk from the signal cabin.
There are ongoing works for the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) Phase 2 at the Kampong Bahru Yard.
The 2 blocks of KTM Spooner Road flats now function as HDB rental flats.
Passing under Kampong Bahru Road.
Kampong Bahru Road Access Point
There is a gentle dirt slope from Kampong Bahru Road beside Block 2 Melati (now no longer bearing the name) to access the Rail Corridor.
Passing under the Central Expressway (CTE).
The level headshunts from the Kampong Bahru Yard have now been filled up according to the gradient of the main line.
The end of the headshunt has also become so overgrown that the sunken look of the headshunt now looks as if it’s a garden with a fence instead.
The end of the level headshunt from Kampong Bahru Yard.
Block 138 Jalan Bukit Merah Access Point
There is a dirt path with steps from Block 138 Jalan Bukit Merah to access the Rail Corridor.
Taking the first curve out of Tanjong Pagar Railway Station vicinity.
Passing under Lower Delta Road.
Contrary to recent popular belief, this is not a train platform as the track was fairly far away from it.
Lower Delta Road Access Point
There is a steep dirt slope from Lower Delta Road down to the Rail Corridor. Use with caution and with a hiking stick if necessary.
Suggested nearby rest stop: 1080 Eating House Coffee Shop
Passing under the Block 16 Telok Blangah Crescent – Lower Delta Road pedestrian overhead bridge.
Passing under Henderson Road.
Henderson Road Access Point
There is a steep dirt slope from Henderson Road down to the Rail Corridor. Use with caution and with a hiking stick if necessary.
Passing by a manicured stretch of Rail Corridor behind Bukit Merah Bus Interchange.
While buses can be seen and heard clearly, there is no access from Bukit Merah Bus Interchange to the Rail Corridor.
Passing under the San Jiang Gong Ci Temple – Lower Delta Road pedestrian overhead bridge.
Jalan Kilang Barat Diversion
Approaching Jalan Kilang Barat, I was met with a hoarding up ahead.
Thankfully, this was just a slight diversion for a minute off the Rail Corridor, with a temporary path built around the construction site.
The temporary diversion also functions as an access point parallel from Jalan Kilang Barat to the Rail Corridor.
Suggested nearby rest stop: ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre
The small construction site is part of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) Phase 2.
Jalan Kilang Barat Access Point
On the normal “alignment”, the Jalan Kilang Barat access point to the Rail Corridor is made up of this gravel path.
Suggested nearby rest stop: ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre
Bukit Merah Lane 3 Access Point
There is a gentle dirt track from Bukit Merah Lane 3 between Block 1002 and Block 1010 to access the Rail Corridor.
Suggested nearby rest stop: Alexandra Village Food Centre
The Rail Corridor is not just used by joggers or cyclists.
Passing under Alexandra Road.
Alexandra Road Access Point
There is a steep dirt and gravel track from Alexandra Road beside AIA Alexandra to access the Rail Corridor.
The rail holding up the KM779 kilometer post still stands today, albeit being taken over by vines.
There is another dirt track from Alexandra Road beside the AYE exit to access the Rail Corridor.
The start of the Hang Jebat Curve or Alexandra Curve, both colloquially known rather than officially named as.
There is yet another dirt track from Alexandra Road beside the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) exit to access the Rail Corridor. The last ditch looks solid but is actually thick mud, so beware. I spent a week cleaning off my shoe the last time I stepped in it a couple of months back.
Passing under AYE Exit 6.
Curving away from the vehicular noise from the AYE since the start of the walk.
I’m not sure if this was a gradient marker. It looks railway-ish but it’s also quite far from where the track alignment was.
Passing by black and white houses on Warwick Road.
Masjid Hang Jebat
Another icon along the railway, Masjid Hang Jebat still stands since it was not on Malaysian land before.
This would have been another good water and toilet point without COVID-19, but due to Phase Three (Heightened Alert) Precautionary Measures for Religious Activities, the mosque remains closed outside of prayer times.
There is an information panel for Masjid Hang Jebat as part of the My Queenstown Heritage Trail.
Jalan Hang Jebat – Queen’s Crescent Access Point
There is a paved path linking Jalan Hang Jebat and Queen’s Crescent serving Masjid Hang Jebat, which can also be used as a Rail Corridor access point.
Queensway – Portsdown Avenue Access Point
There is a semi-paved dirt path from the staircase down from the junction of Queensway and Portsdown Avenue to access the Rail Corridor. Previously, this was used to access the Sri Thandavaalam Muneeswaran Alayam Shrine.
Heading under Queensway and Portsdown Avenue. Even though there is a busy junction right above, it is very quiet under the giant flyover. It also gets very dark here even with the noon sun shining outside – can’t imagine what it would be like at night.
Heading out of the darkness right back into the noontime sun.
Commonwealth Park Access Point
There is a paved path from Commonwealth Park to access the Rail Corridor, which is currently also being upgraded.
Commonwealth Green – Woking Road Access Point
There is a paved path connecting Commonwealth Green and Woking Road which can also be used to access the Rail Corridor.
Suggested nearby rest stop: Tanglin Halt Food Centre
There is an information panel for the former Malayan Railways here on the Commonwealth Green end of the footpath as part of the My Queenstown Heritage Trail.
A mixed goods train hauled by a 20 Class locomotive photographed passing by the Tanglin Halt estate.
No no no, the ABC sidings were only serving godowns and not considered a station. Only Tanglin Halt can be considered a “station” in the non-technical sense of the word.
Commonwealth Drive Block 72 – Wilton Close Access Point
There is a dirt and gravel path connecting Commonwealth Drive Block 72 and Wilton Close which can also be used to access the Rail Corridor.
I think I took a split second longer to figure out what “slow your wheels” meant, it would have just been easier to write “slow down” instead.
Biomedical Grove Access Point
There is a staircase from Biomedical Grove down to the Rail Corridor.
There is a staggered junction here which makes it an accident prone area.
Tanglin Halt Road Access Point
There is a paved path from Tanglin Halt Road up to the Rail Corridor.
I don’t recall the railway track to be so snaky. Wonder what’s the caution going to be like at this area if I were a train.
After the actual Tanglin Halt, the rest of Tanglin Halt estate is also being flattened.
Tanglin Halt
A new vehicular flyover connecting Holland Avenue and North Buona Vista Drive has been built but not opened for traffic yet. This sits right above where Tanglin Railway Halt used to stand.
The Rail Corridor track has also been lowered to pass under this vehicular flyover with a good height clearance.
An estimated view of Tanglin Railway Halt from the track alignment.
The old Tanglin Railway Halt station building before the closure of the railway.
Passing under the new vehicular bridge, yet to be named.
Looks like a future wide rest area for the Rail Corridor here.
You can see the lowering of the “track bed” clearly with a line across the current paved track.
Passing under the East West Line MRT viaducts beside Buona Vista MRT Station.
Bus Stop 11181 Opp Blk 43 Access Point
There is a dirt and gravel path from Bus Stop 11181 Opp Blk 43 to access the Rail Corridor.
Suggested nearby rest stop: Holland Drive Market and Food Centre
Buona Vista MRT Station Exit B Access Point
There is a muddy path with concrete drain covers on it, used as stepping stones on the mud, from Buona Vista MRT Station Exit B directly to the Rail Corridor. If only there was a commuter railway to interchange seamlessly with the East West Line and Circle Line today.
Suggested nearby rest stop: Buona Vista MRT Station & Buona Vista Xchange
Heading under Commonwealth Avenue.
Sus.
I’m not sure if this graffiti is official or vandalism.
Heading under North Buona Vista Road.
An old telegraph support still hangs below the bridge.
Buona Vista MRT Station Exit A Access Point
The underpass outside of Buona Vista MRT Station Exit A leads to a gravel path to the Rail Corridor. This gives a better northbound access from Buona Vista MRT Station.
Passing under the Ghim Moh Road – North Buona Vista Road pedestrian overhead bridge.
Ghim Moh Road Access Point
There is a dirt path connecting the footpath between Ghim Moh Road and Ghim Moh Road – North Buona Vista Road pedestrian overhead bridge to the Rail Corridor.
Suggested nearby rest stop: Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre
East Sussex Lane Access Point
There is a dirt path from East Sussex Lane to the Rail Corridor.
Passing under the Ghim Moh Road – East Sussex Lane pedestrian overhead bridge.
Block 5 Ghim Moh Road – East Sussex Lane Access Point
There are dirt paths from both ends of the Block 5 Ghim Moh Road – East Sussex Lane pedestrian overhead bridge to the Rail Corridor. I guess residents have been using this as a shortcut to climbing stairs now that there are no trains to deal with.
Passing by the Ministry Of Education Headquarters (Mount Sinai).
Passing the backyards of houses along Jalan Jelita.
Jalan Jelita Access Point
Concrete tiles in between 31 Jalan Jelita and 33 Jalan Jelita make up a path from Jalan Jelita down to the Rail Corridor.
A familiar landmark on approach to Bukit Timah Railway Station, which also makes for a good pit stop on the walk.
Holland Road (Jelita) Access Point
A concrete pedestrian path leads down from Holland Road beside Caltex Holland down to the Rail Corridor.
Suggested nearby rest stop: Caltex Holland & Cold Storage Jelita
This is a good pit stop along the Rail Corridor walk for a toilet and refreshment break.
Caltex Holland
Caltex Holland is located just beside the Rail Corridor access point.
The nearest toilet is available inside Caltex Star Mart. You can get drinks and snacks here too if you don’t wish to walk to the neighbouring Cold Storage Jelita.
Heading back to the Rail Corridor after filling up my water bottle.
Passing under Holland Road.
Not sure what this concrete thing is for.
The Rail Corridor still gets busy on a weekday noon.
Bukit Sedap Road Access Point
There is a dirt path from Bukit Sedap Road up to the Rail Corridor.
Greenleaf View Access Point
There is a gravel path from the corner of Greenleaf Walk and Greenleaf View up to the Rail Corridor.
Passing under Holland Road.
The final right curve towards Bukit Timah Railway Station.
Holland Road (Ewart Park – Greenleaf Walk) Access Point
There is a dirt and gravel path from Holland Road near Ewart Park and Greenleaf Walk down to the Rail Corridor.
There’s another access point down ahead but this looks like coming from the Bukit Timah Diversion Canal construction site and not really for easy public access.
Yeah, definitely not a straight path any more on the main line.
Bukit Timah Diversion Canal Wetlands
A new addition to the Rail Corridor, the Bukit Timah Diversion Canal was constructed after the closure of the railway, with a new man-made Bukit Timah Diversion Canal Wetlands built near the Rail Corridor at he confluence of 2 man-made canals.
Not being in KL for so long made me thought this was a mirage of the confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers in the distance with a STAR LRT flying on top.
Bukit Timah Diversion Canal
The Bukit Timah Diversion Canal diverts water away from Bukit Timah Canal (which leads to Marina Reservoir), goes under the Rail Corridor, and leads to Sungei Ulu Pandan towards Pandan Reservior, which is why there’s this new stretch of grass now.
So contrary to popular nonsense belief, this is not the alignment or junction to the Jurong Line.
I’m not sure if this is a link to Bukit Timah Diversion Canal Wetlands and Holland Green Linear Park.
Awkwardly swinging right to an approach I might be very familiar with.
Bukit Timah Railway Station
The Rail Corridor path changes patterns on approach to Bukit Timah Railway Station. Note that this is the current Rail Corridor vicinity of Bukit Timah Railway Station and not the location of the southern point of the loop line.
A new “loop line” under construction leading to the Station Master’s Bungalow.
Strangely taking a down incline to the platform.
The porous binded aggregate track slowly transitions to actual railway track. This embedded section of track is not the original section retained by Singapore when the railway closed, but was just added in some time last year.
It’s just like thinking the preserved track ahead is 118 years old this year. *shakes head*
In case you didn’t know it yet, there was a track rehabilitation in 2003 to fit the Blue Tiger in to Singapore, which also explains the change to the modern concrete sleepers on the main line. Yes, that also means KTM changed to concrete sleepers in Singapore a whole 10 years before the North-South and East-West Lines (NSEWL).
New plants are being added to the platform and signs are up to inform people not to enter the area.
Looking north before stepping onto the railway tracks.
Wow, how did the token catcher get so overgrown? And it’s still being preserved even without the reflective token catcher sign?
The remaining station sign of Bukit Timah Railway Station.
Bukit Timah Railway Station itself is undergoing renovations, and is now properly hoarded up and taken care off after 10 years.
An artist’s impression of what Bukit Timah Railway Station might look like after renovations.
Bukit Timah Railway Station Master’s Bungalow
The Bukit Timah Railway Station Master’s Bungalow is similarly hoarded up for renovations.
A direct reminder of COVID-19, you may SafeEntry into Bukit Timah Railway Station when using the Rail Corridor. And do not loiter.
Continuing on my walk towards the north, back on porous binded aggregate track.
Not forgetting to step on to the platform for a few seconds before continuing.
Seems like the Bukit Timah Railway Station building will become a heritage gallery, and the Station Master’s Bungalow will become a café with outdoor refreshment area (ORA).
I wonder what food will be served up. Wonder if it will be like PS.Cafe or ETS Cafe. Can’t wait for 2nd quarter of 2022 already.
The goods platform is being redeveloped into community lawns.
Looking back at Bukit Timah Railway Station. Goodbye again, on my annual visit. A vast drop in visiting frequency considering I was here almost every weekend when the railway was still running. (If I wasn’t here on a full weekend, I was probably in KL, Ipoh, or Butterworth.)
Bukit Timah Railway Station | King Albert Park MRT Station Access Point
The road to the railway station is closed, and the previous secondary road down from the siding now forms the main path from King Albert Park MRT Station to Bukit Timah Railway Station and the Rail Corridor.
I think I also see a much-needed toilet coming up.
Suggested nearby rest stop: KAP Mall
Merging back with the “main line” from the “siding”.
Bridge 1871
Bridge 1871 sits north of Bukit Timah Railway Station, and was recently refurbished last year.
A portable barrier tells users to keep left when crossing the bridge.
I wonder if a train could do a Hot Wheels fly up from here.
The sides of the bridge has a fence added for safety. Also, note the original kilometer post of KM772.50 still standing there.
Perhaps a nicer entrance to Bukit Timah Railway Station from the main road next time.
Heading through the newly-refurbished Bridge 1871.
Look at the jam. If only there was something that could get me from Bukit Timah Railway Station to Woodlands Train Checkpoint in 18 minutes. Oh wait.
The nice emboss of Dorman Long & Co., Ltd, Middlesbrough. England appearing on trusses.
The bridge number on the Rifle Range Road end has also been revealed nicely.
Rifle Range Road Access Point (Coast-to-Coast Trail Interchange)
There is a short and sweet dirt track from Rifle Range Road up to the Rail Corridor. This point also allows for transfers to the Coast-to-Coast Trail below Bridge 1871.
Suggested nearby rest stop: Sime Darby Centre
Surprisingly a new caution sign stands along the railway alignment, but for bicycles instead.
Bus Stop 42089 Opp Bt Timah Plaza – Rifle Range Road Access Point
Formerly a heavily-used shortcut between the bus stop and Rifle Range Road, including by me when alighting from the bus to walk to Bukit Timah Railway Station, the path has now been upgraded to a wheelchair-accessible Rail Corridor access point.
There’s also a redesigned Rail Corridor kilometer marker for this stretch, reminiscent of railway crossings.
The original shortcut alignment has now been upgraded to a proper concrete path and a bicycle ramp beside the short flight of steps. Wheelchair-accessible ramps flank the sides of this staircase.
Passing under the PIE Anak Bukit Flyover.
Jalan Anak Bukit Access Point (Coast-to-Coast Trail Interchange)
There is a diversion staircase at Jalan Anak Bukit between the PIE Anak Bukit Flyover and PIE Jalan Anak Bukit Exit. The stretch ahead is closed from 7.30pm till 11.30pm daily for this month, and users will have to divert to the main road to continue on the Rail Corridor.
Suggested nearby rest stop: Beauty World Centre
Passing under the PIE Jalan Anak Bukit Exit.
I think I see the cause of this disruption ahead.
Future (?) Beauty World Centre Access Point (Coast-to-Coast Trail & Rifle Range Nature Park Interchange)
An elevated open pedestrian bridge is being built over the Rail Corridor towards Rifle Range Nature Park.
This starts from the existing pedestrian overhead bridge over Jalan Anak Bukit at Beauty World Centre. The construction hoardings here also suggest that this may be another access point to the Rail Corridor, which would then make it an interchange to the Coast-to-Coast Trail again.
A set of stairs from the new open bridge leading down to the Rail Corridor.
The set of stairs lead down to this Rail Corridor junction with a kilometer marker.
After this interchange, the porous binded aggregate track transitions to dirt and gravel after some wooden planks.
This looks a bit more like a railway track bed, but of course, railway ballast isn’t so small.
Bridge 1868 – Hinhede Drive Bridge (Coast-to-Coast Trail Interchange)
Approaching Bridge 1868 or Hinhede Drive Bridge, cyclists are reminded to dismount and push as there is a short stretch of track remaining on the bridge.
Bridge 1868 has also been refurbished with new guard rails on the sides of the bridge.
A new set of stairs lead directly from Hinhede Drive up to Bridge 1868.
Looking down at Hinhede Road towards Upper Bukit Timah Road from Bridge 1868.
The guard fence at the side look like the ones previously on Bridge 1871, but I’m pretty sure these are new.
Hinhede Drive Access Point (Coast-to-Coast Trail Interchange)
There is an porous binded aggregate path from Hinhede Drive leading to the Rail Corridor.
Hinhede Walk Lookout Deck
Among refurbishments made to the Rail Corridor, a lookout deck towards Hinhede Drive is built adjacent to the railway alignment.
Not sure what I’m supposed to look out to though.
Hinhede Walk Access Point
There is a flight of steps leading down from the northern end of Hinhede Walk to the Rail Corridor.
Bridge 1863 – Quarry Bridge
Bridge 1863 carried a road to the former Singapore Quarry. Today, it is known in Rail Corridor maps as Quarry Bridge.
A new set of stairs have been constructed to access Quarry Bridge easily from the Rail Corridor.
Quarry Bridge has been refurbished with a typical modern Singapore bridge look when standing on it, which feels strange when considering the exterior of the bridge still retaining its original design.
Heading under the weathered Quarry Bridge to continue on my way.
Looking north from Quarry Bridge.
Slightly more than 10 years ago, trains were still running under Quarry Bridge. Here’s the 25dn Senandung Sutera from KL Sentral spotted from Bridge 1863 on Monday, 21 February 2011.
Looking south from Quarry Bridge.
Here’s the special 2up Ekspres Rakyat from Singapore spotted from Bridge 1863 which will be taken over by DYMM Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, Sultan of Johor from JB Sentral to Kluang and from Seremban to Kuala Lumpur on Monday, 21 February 2011.
Heading on the curve towards Bridge 1861 and The Rail Mall.
Bridge 1861
Bridge 1861 is more popularly known as the bridge beside The Rail Mall. Unlike Bridge 1871, the new railway tracks here do not run on the exact old alignment, but are slanted in aesthetically in small stretches.
Another much-needed upcoming toilet before Bridge 1861.
Similar to the other bridges before, users are directed to keep left on Bridge 1681.
No sign of the bridge number here.
Similar to Bridge 1871, the sides of Bridge 1861 have new railings fixed on.
The nice emboss of Cargo-Fleet England appearing on trusses.
Hillview Rail Corridor Diversion
The Rail Corridor path ends here for now, with a significant diversion ahead. Hoardings are in place immediately after Bridge 1861.
The diversion here is rather long, stretching from The Rail Mall all the way to opposite CHIJ Our Lady Queen Of Peace, a distance of about 1 kilometer.
The exit down and out is via a new set of stairs leading to and from The Rail Mall just before Bridge 1861.
Suggested nearby rest stop: The Rail Mall
The Rail Mall
The Rail Mall is a good pit stop for a mid-walk meal.
Seems like a more elaborate access point is taking shape after The Rail Mall.
Looking back at Bridge 1861 from The Rail Mall.
The Rail Mall is modelled after railway godowns, and has plenty of shops and restaurants. There is also a Cold Storage here to stock up on drinks and other necessities.
Instead of taking the advised diversion, I headed on the sheltered walkway to Hillview MRT Station to use the pedestrian crossing instead of climbing the stairs on to the overhead bridge.
Bridge 1859 – Hillview Bridge
Crossing the road at Upper Bukit Timah Road – Hillview Road junction.
This was where Bridge 1859 or Hillview Bridge once stood.
Bridge 1859 was one of the first railway structures to be removed after the railway closure, with Hillview Road widened pretty quickly to cater to the traffic.
This also allows double-decker buses to be used on busy bus routes such as SMRT Bus Service 963, which was previously restricted by the height of Bridge 1859 across the very slim Hillview Road.
Construction is under way to build a replacement pedestrian overhead bridge along the Rail Corridor alignment.
Interestingly, this bridge is lumped together in a road package in Dairy Farm and Tuas too, under LTA Contract DE113 – Commuter and Infrastructure works at Hillview, Dairy Farm and Tuas Area.
Suggested nearby rest stop: HillV2
Hillview MRT Station
A rather straightforward access, the Rail Corridor is directly accessible here from Hillview MRT Station.
Continuing out of the sheltered walkway.
More signs pointing to the Rail Corridor ahead.
Bus Stop 43071 Opp Dairy Farm Rd Access Point
Bus Stop 43071 Opp Dairy Farm Rd is where the Rail Corridor restarts from the diversion, and can be used as an access point in future once the alignment returns fully in a single stretch without the diversion.
The other end of the diversion – a lot more simple.
The scenery here is rather different from the manicured path since Tanjong Pagar Railway Station Signal Cabin.
CLOSED: Bus Stop 43081 Opp Assumption Eng Sch Access Point
There used to be a path from Bus Stop 43081 Opp Assumption Eng Sch, opposite St. Joseph Church (Bukit Timah), but this has since been blocked off with this thin rope. Use Bus Stop 43071 Opp Dairy Farm Rd or Gombak Gate (Gombak Drive) to access the Rail Corridor instead.
Some parts of Hillview Camp are hoarded up, probably for the construction of NS Hub.
I wonder if there are any Pokémon hiding in these tall grass.
Gombak Gate | Gombak Drive Access Point
From the south, Kranji Gate is the first railway crossing out of a total of 5 in Singapore.
Gombak Gate crosses Gombak Drive which is the access point to MINDEF Gombak Base. Don’t turn your camera to it to avoid any unnecessary trouble.
Heading along an open stretch of grass.
The Rail Corridor kilometer posts here follow the design of KTM’s, with the distance relating to the number of kilometers from Tanjong Pagar or Woodlands respectively, depending on which side you are looking at it from.
A small diversion before the Rail Corridor Test Track.
Rail Corridor Test Track
The Rail Corridor Test Track was constructed while the Rail Corridor was closed for the PUB Murnane Pipeline Project for public feedback on what material they would like the Rail Corridor to be paved with.
The main line of the Rail Corridor Test Track follows the previous main line alignment of the railway. I guess porous binded aggregate won the test for the southern section.
A preserved railway building in front of towering HDB flats around Bukit Panjang Plaza.
Bukit Panjang Gate | Choa Chu Kang Road Access Point
Bukit Panjang Gate controls traffic on Choa Chu Kang Road, and is the second railway crossing in Singapore from the south out of 5. Today, it is also the only railway crossing with the original hut still being retained, though without a conservation status.
Looking across Choa Chu Kang Road from Bukit Panjang Gate.
Contract 801B Asset Replacement and Reliability Enhancement Works for Bukit Panjang Light Rapid Transit Staging Area
The other side of Bukit Panjang Gate is now used by LTA as a staging area under Contract 801B Asset Replacement and Reliability Enhancement Works for Bukit Panjang Light Rapid Transit. Bukit Panjang LRT trains get hoisted up and down from the tracks here, which is just adjacent to Ten Mile Junction Depot.
Perhaps fitting that the railway line continues to keep another kind of railway operating.
Suggested nearby rest stop: Junction 10
Junction 10
As the alignment of the Rail Corridor is blocked by the Contract 801B Asset Replacement and Reliability Enhancement Works for Bukit Panjang Light Rapid Transit Staging Area, a detour is necessary via Woodlands Road. This makes Junction 10 another perfect pit stop with toilets and a Sheng Siong Supermarket.
Bridge 1853 – Pang Sua Canal Bridge (Demolished)
The steel bridge over Pang Sua Canal, Bridge 1853, has been demolished.
Woodlands Road Heavy Vehicle Park Access Point
The Rail Corridor is access again by a path through Woodlands Road Heavy Vehicle Park.
Heading up to the grass again.
You can still see where Bridge 1853 used to run over the Pang Sua Canal. Hopefully, a replacement bridge will be built as this will offer a useful pedestrian and cycling link between Teck Whye View and Woodlands Road, and act as an interchange between the Rail Corridor and Pang Sua Park Connector.
Back on the Rail Corridor, the slim dirt path now simply becomes grass.
The Rail Corridor kilometer post with the new HDB flats in Senja overlooking it.
Woodlands Road – Teck Whye Secondary School Access Point
There is a pedestrian path linking Woodlands Road and Teck Whye Secondary School which can be used to access the Rail Corridor.
Passing under the Kranji Expressway (KJE).
Wonder how the path got zigzagged like this.
Woodlands Road – Villa Verde Park Access Point
There is a new path from Woodlands Road to Villa Verde Park which can be used to access the Rail Corridor.
The path beside the railway still exists today. This was originally here even when the railway was running.
Starting to get muddy here.
Gali Batu Bus Terminal
Looking at the elaborate pedestrian entrance to Gali Batu Bus Terminal, which in the end turned out to be almost useless since Gali Batu Bus Terminal is not open to the public.
17km since I started from Tanjong Pagar.
Stagmont Ring Heavy Vehicle Park Access Point
There is a grass path from Stagmont Ring Heavy Vehicle Park down to the Rail Corridor.
Mandai Gate | Stagmont Ring Access Point
Mandai Gate (Stagmont Ring) is the third railway crossing out of 5 in Singapore, both from the north and south. The look of it today is vastly different from when the railway was running.
Stagmont Ring has been necessarily widened not long after the clsure of the railway to cater to traffic between Woodlands Road and Yew Tee, an important link to and from the KJE and Mandai Road.
A new pair of bus stops have also been added on Stagmost Ring where the gate was.
Suggested nearby rest stop: Club July Stagmont Ring
Continuing on north from Stagmont Ring.
A new Singapore-style bridge over what is probably a new drain below.
Smoothly curving away from civilisation.
Bridge 1847
Bridge 1847 still stands as a basic concrete bridge, with a rather lost chicken in front of it.
Sungei Kadut Gate | Sungei Kadut Avenue Access Point
Sungei Kadut Gate on Sungei Kadut Avenue is the fourth railway crossing in Singapore from the south, out of 5 level crossings in total.
The look of Sungei Kadut Gate hasn’t really changed much since 10 years ago, aside from the most obvious missing gate.
Continuing on the Rail Corridor after Sungei Kadut Gate.
Very dilapidated railway buildings with overgrown vegetation around it.
The left curve towards Woodlands after Sungei Kadut Gate.
A new Singapore-style bridge has been built over a widened and straightened canal, with grass planted over the bridge.
Woodlands Road (Mandai Road) Access Point
There is an opening beside the widened canal which can be used to access the Rail Corridor from Woodlands Road near Mandai Road.
Bridge 1846
Bridge 1846 lies over an old river which has been diverted to the widened canal. This is where the Rail Corridor started to advance in level.
Portions of the Rail Corridor ahead gets very, very muddy.
Not sure what this bridge is running over.
And a familiar sight and motor sounds reappear again as I approach the MRT viaducts near Kranji. Note that this stretch may not be in the revamped Rail Corridor once the alignment gets diverted to opposite Kranji MRT Station.
Heading under the MRT viaducts.
Kranji MRT Viaducts (KF1 Karting Circuit) Access Point
There is a grass path from Woodlands Road after KF1 Karting Circuit under the MRT viaducts to access the Rail Corridor.
⚠️ NEW: Closure between Kranji MRT Viaducts and Kranji Gate
The Rail Corridor is currently closed between Kranji MRT Viaducts and Kranji Gate. No details are available about this closure aside from signs on-site that it is closed for maintenance. Details here and here.
⚠️ WARNING: The MRT viaducts mark where the Rail Corridor gets to the most difficult level. The access point under the MRT viaducts is your last escape route before the very raw and natural landscape ahead.
After the MRT viaducts, the Rail Corridor gets very raw with a new overgrown forest. I will not recommend going through this area without boots, unless you’re feeling adventurous. For me, since I already made it this far from Tanjong Pagar, I was just going to go all the way.
Nothing can stop me! (Famous last words.)
The path here gets very muddy, with the ground rather soft and unstable.
Should I backtrack and follow the MRT on my way out?
Nope. Let’s go and make myself satisfied with all these mud around me. Oops.